Have Your Say

McCORMACK DELIVERS FUNDING TO TACKLE DRUG SCOURGE

1 July 2018

NATIONALS’ Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has delivered funding to help tackle the issue of alcohol and drug use in the Wagga Wagga community.

AFL Riverina has been established as a Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) and will receive $10,000 in funding to help develop a local Community Action Plan to educate the community to prevent and reduce the anti-social behaviour emanating from alcohol and other drugs in the community.

Mr McCormack congratulated AFL Riverina on successfully applying to become a LDAT.

“I’m pleased AFL Riverina has taken the initiative to educate young people about the perils of drug and alcohol addiction,” Mr McCormack said.

“This stance will help prevent impressionable young people making the wrong decisions and slipping through the cracks.

“AFL Riverina will deliver health prevention activities for the local community, including education, mentoring and support for vulnerable people to minimise their risk of drug-related harm.”

AFL Riverina Chairman Michael Irons said it was important that sporting organisations played their part to help prevent alcohol and drug abuse in the community.

“We know that our football and netball clubs play an important role in our communities and are not immune from the impact of drugs and alcohol,” Mr Irons said.

“If our clubs can play a role in helping to positively educate people then that is one step to helping addressing the issue in the wider community.

“The delivery of the Community Action Plan is a team effort and couldn’t be achieved without the support of our partners AFL NSW/ACT, NSW Police, Calvary Drug and Alcohol, NSW Roads and Maritime Services and The Alcohol and Drug Foundation.”

Minister for Rural Health Bridget McKenzie said the Coalition was investing $298 million over four years to combat drug and alcohol misuse across Australia under the National Ice Action Strategy.

“Regional communities are often the hardest hit when it comes to ice abuse and addiction,” Minister McKenzie said.

More information about LDATs can be found on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s website www.adf.org.au/ldat.

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